JeM’s PoK handlers were planning fidayeen attack on RSS

Nagpur: Rais Ahmad Shaikh, 26, Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) operative who had surveyed RSS Headquarters and Hedgewar Smruti Bhavan at Reshimbagh, was being controlled by the terror outfit’s Pakistan-Occupied-Kashmir (PoK)-based handler Umar during his three-day visit to the city. Based on Shaikh’s inputs, JeM may have planned to send him, or another module, back to Nagpur for a ‘fidayeen’ attack.

Nagpur police and intelligence agencies are now tracking yet another sleeper cell in Nagpur, which was supposed to extend logistics support to Shaikh in city but pulled out of the mission at the last moment. Shaikh was supposed to meet the secret operative at Nagpur’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar international airport, but he did not turn up at the last moment. Shaikh had to travel around the city using Google maps.

It’s learnt Shaikh, an electrician, was roped in by JeM as he had sound skills in handling electrical circuits, which are one of the main components of the IEDs.

Umar, operational commander of JeM in PoK, wanted Shaikh to move as close as possible to the RSS premises, and collect images and videos about the entry and exit routes with least resistance and ease of access. He was also insisting that Shaikh, who had arrived in Nagpur on July 13 and left on July 15, get clear images and videos of Hedgewar Bhavan too. Shaikh, who was alone while in city, had checked into a lodge at Sitabuldi and visited a shrine after abandoning the mission mid-way.

Shaikh, left unnerved by security deployment at both RSS and Hegdewar Bhavan, is learnt to have aborted the mission mid-way after collecting some grainy footage, which had left Umar angry. It was after Shaikh’s arrest in Kashmir that the JeM terror plot in Nagpur had been exposed.

Sources from security intelligence said JeM had started conducting reccees across India for perpetrating a series of ‘fidayeen’ attacks at different vital establishments. Nagpur’s RSS is learnt to be on the hit list of ISI-backed JeM, which is learnt to be receiving support from Taliban, which wrenched power in Afghanistan in a coup.

Within 24 hours of Nagpur police revelation about JeM recruit Shaikh’s visit to city, security forces in Kashmir busted yet another module of the same outfit which had recceed NIA headquarters in Delhi and other places.

City police chief Amitesh Kumar said security has been overhauled at all vital and sensitive installations. “City police had been working on various terror plots and strategies since earlier this year. After a couple of developments, including busting of a conversion racket, city police had started collecting various inputs and links,” said the CP. He added use of drones in and around RSS and other installations had been prohibited after inputs of their misuse for aerial attacks had come to fore.

Kumar, and Joint CP Aswati Dorje, had visited RSS headquarters this week to conduct a security audit and strengthen deployment after the JeM terror plot was exposed in December following the arrest of Shaikh with a grenade in his possession. City police now plan to bring Shaikh to city for further questioning. An initial interrogation session has already been conducted by DCP, crime, Chinmay Pandit.

THROWBACK TO 2006 ENCOUNTER

Then city police chief SPS Yadav had formed three teams under three officers for special missions against terror attacks after receiving intel

Teams used to patrol RSS HQ, Badkas Square, Hegdewar Smruti Bhavan and other places

At around 2.45am and 3am on June 1, 2006, SI Arvind Saraf spotted a white Ambassador crossing Badkas Square with an amber beacon

Saraf alerted SI Rajendra Tiwari to check the vehicle as passengers did not look like officers

Tiwari alerted other teams as Ambassador sped away towards RSS HQ

Intercepted near barricades set up by SRPF

Three alleged LeT terrorists gunned down in early dawn operation under supervision of then zonal DCP Prabhat Kumar

During encounter, 3 terrorists hurled grenade but pin remained intact

Police recovered substantial arms and ammunitions from terrorists, including AKs